Prentice announces by-election date, PC candidates

Alberta’s new premier put an end to speculation over plans for by-elections Monday morning, announcing when residents of four constituencies would head to the polls.

Premier Jim Prentice said by-elections in one Edmonton constituency, and three in Calgary, would take place October 27.

Seats for Edmonton-Whitemud, Calgary-Elbow, Calgary-West and Calgary-Foothills are all empty after their respective MLAs stepped down in recent months.

In Edmonton, former premier and long-time MLA Dave Hancock announced in mid-September that he was leaving provincial politics after Prentice was chosen as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.

In early August, the seat in Calgary-Elbow was left vacant after former premier and MLA Alison Redford stepped down amid a cloud of scandal.

Finally, on Monday, the MLAs for Calgary-West and Calgary-Foothills; Len Webber and Ken Hughes, announced they were also leaving provincial politics.

In addition to announcing the by-election date, Prentice also named the PC candidates planning to run for those seats: Health Minister Stephen Mandel will run in Edmonton-Whitemud, while Education Minister Gordon Dirks will run in Calgary-Elbow.

Mike Ellis, a Calgary police officer, will run in Calgary-West, and Prentice is set to run in Calgary-Foothills.

Also Monday, the New Democrats announced four candidates who will run in those constituencies: Dr. Bob Turner (Edmonton-Whitemud), Stephanie McLean (Calgary-Elbow), Jennifer Burgess (Calgary-Foothills), and Brian Malkinson (Calgary-West).

The previous week, the Wildrose Party announced Tim Grover would challenge Mandel and Turner for the seat in Edmonton-Whitemud, and according to the Wildrose Party candidate listing on their website, John Fletcher is the party's candidate in Calgary-Elbow.

Officials with the Wildrose Party announced Monday afternoon that the candidate for Calgary-Foothills would be announced Tuesday morning.